Renegade (Tin Star K9 Series Book 1) by Jodi Burnett (literature books to read .txt) 📗

financial mess.” Caitlyn snatched up her beer bottle and took several swigs.

“What possible decision could you have made that would do that? And do you think Dylan is mad enough about that to hurt you?” Colt’s worried eyes watched her carefully while he waited for her answer.

To create some space between them, Caitlyn moved to the living room and jabbed at the ebbing fire with a poker. She leveled out the smoldering logs, making room for a new one, and tossed in a chunk of pine that caught instantly. With a ragged breath, tears she’d been holding at bay, nurtured by raw guilt, scorched the back of her eyes and pressed until they overflowed, coursing down her cheeks. She rubbed her face on her sleeve.

“Last summer, I asked my dad to give me my third of the ranch inheritance in cash so that I could buy a place of my own.” Her heart ached as she appealed to Colt for understanding. “You see, Dylan is the only one of us kids who wants to run the ranch. One-third of its worth will be mine, and the other third will be Logan’s. But the thing is, I don’t want to live there for the rest of my life. My only job prospect would be working as a ranch hand for my big brother. I’d never be able to afford my own place doing that.”

“Anyway, my dad agreed. Unfortunately, he had to take an equity loan out against the ranch to get the cash. The loan raised the mortgage payment and made things really tight, and when Dylan didn’t get the price he needed for the cattle he sent to the market last fall, what was financially tight became strangulating.”

“What do you mean by strangulating?”

“Dylan is at risk of losing the ranch altogether, and it’s all because of me. So you see, he has every reason to be angry with me. Hell, I’m angry at myself. But what can I do now? I already spent the money on this place.” Caitlyn’s throat tightened over her voice as she fought off more tears. Pausing, she swallowed hard. “What’s done is done, but if it comes down to it, I’ll sell this place and give the money to Dylan. There’s no way I’ll let him lose that ranch.”

“Does Dylan know that?”

“No! He won’t listen to me. He refuses to talk to me about it.” Caitlyn slammed her bottle down on the dining table, causing the beer to foam out the top.

“Do you think you could be in danger? Is Dylan mad enough to hurt you?”

“Dylan would never hurt me.” Caitlyn gazed into the fire. She hoped she was right, but then again, she’d never seen such fury in her brother’s eyes before.

Colt had known Dylan a long time. He was a man of few words and powerful emotions. The one thing the man loved more than anything else was that ranch. Colt wasn’t convinced at all that Dylan wouldn’t hurt Caitlyn. He wasn’t convinced that Dylan was innocent of murder, either. An unexpected baby and the financial obligations that came with it could send a desperate man over the edge.

The one thing Colt knew at this point was that he was determined to keep Caitlyn safe. The only way he could see himself doing that, if they released Dylan, was by staying close to her, and his excuse to do so would be her investigation. “I have one thing I can tell you about that we learned from Doc Kennedy that has not been broadcast on the news.”

Caitlyn turned and searched his face with her deep brown eyes. “What? What did you learn?” She moved toward him.

“The cause of Wendy’s death.” Caitlyn held her breath, waiting. “Wendy was shot in the back of the head, execution style. The investigative team believes the perp shot her on location, at the side of the grave. There was evidence of blood spatter in the surrounding soil.”

Caitlyn stared at him. “The murderer took Wendy to the top of the ridge while she was alive?” She rolled her lower lip in between her teeth and bit down. Her eyes took on a distant glaze, and she resumed her pacing. “There was no sign of a struggle near the grave. Presumably, whoever took her up to the ridge was someone she knew and trusted. It could have been Dylan, but why? I don’t see a surprise baby as something he would kill over. You know Dylan, he’s the type who would offer to marry her.”

“But what if she wanted money? Money he didn’t have?”

Caitlyn seemed to consider that possibility, then continued. “Who else might have a motive? Jim seems the obvious choice.”

“Yeah, except that Jim willing went along with having a paternity test and he has answered all sorts of questions regarding Wendy. It’s Dylan who refuses to cooperate.” A heavy, cold lump formed in Colt’s belly.

Caitlyn’s throat ached. Her shoulders drooped, and she lowered her chin to her chest. Her body shook with silent tears and Colt rushed to her. He pulled her into his arms, and she didn’t resist. In fact, she returned his embrace, sliding her hands up the defined muscles of his back, seeking solace in his comforting warmth. When her tears were spent, she looked up into Colt’s face. Compassion filled his kind eyes, and she gave him an embarrassed smile. He bent down, his gaze dropped to her mouth, and his lips followed.

A starved flame of desire leapt inside Caitlyn’s body, overshadowed only by a deep yearning to be loved. Colt smelled of leather and fresh air. He cupped the back of her head in his hand, but when his lips met hers, Caitlyn’s spine instinctively stiffened. She pushed away from him, taking deep breaths to help her maintain her resolve. “This can’t happen, Colt. I think it’s time for you to go.” She pointed at the door.

“I’m sorry, Catie. I didn’t mean for that to happen.” His jaw stiffened,